Renin, a highly specific aspartyl protease, cleaves angiotensinogen, to yield angiotensin I, which is further converted into angiotensin II by ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme). Angiotensin II constricts blood vessels leading to increased blood pressure. It also increases the secretion of ADH and aldosterone, and stimulates the hypothalamus to activate the thirst reflex. Since an overactive renin-angiotensin system leads to hypertension, renin is an attractive target for the treatment of this disease.

The SensoLyte® 390 Renin Assay Kit provides a convenient assay for high throughput screening of renin inhibitors and for continuous assay of renin activity using a Mc-Ala/Dnp fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide. In the FRET peptide the fluorescence of Mc-Ala is quenched by Dnp. Upon cleavage into two separate fragments by renin, the fluorescence of Mc-Ala is recovered, and can be monitored at excitation/emission = 330/390 nm. This assay is about four fold more sensitive than an EDANS/DABCYL-based assay and can detect 8 ng/ml of renin. The kit contains: • Mc-Ala/Dnp-based FRET peptide substrate (Ex/Em=330/390 nm upon cleavage) • Assay buffer • Human recombinant renin • Renin inhibitor • Fluorescence reference standard for calibration • A detailed protocol